Ronald Jack Pennick (December 7, 1895 – August 16, 1964) was an American film actor. After working as a gold miner as a young man, serving as a
U.S. Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
, he would go on to appear in more than 140 films between 1926 and 1962. Pennick was a leading member to in the informal
John Ford Stock Company, appearing in dozens of
the director's films. Pennick also drilled the military extras in
John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...
's ''
The Alamo'' (1960).
Biography
Pennick was born in
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
, the son of gold miner Albert R. and Bessie (Murray) Pennick. He and his first wife, Grechin, had two children by the time he was twenty. He had a third child with his second wife, Nona Lorraine. Pennick joined the
U.S. Marine Corps serving in China and
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
In the 1920s he worked as a
horse wrangler on various film productions before he was noticed by filmmaker
John Ford
John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...
. He soon began working as an actor, as well as a military technical adviser.
He re-enlisted in the
U.S. Navy in September 1941, at the age of 45. He was promoted to chief warrant officer (chief photographer) in December 1942. He served in the Field Photographic Unit for the
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the first intelligence agency of the United States, formed during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines ...
under the command of Ford where he helped to drill and train new recruits in the unit.
Pennick was awarded the
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
medal for action in North Africa.
[United States Department of the Navy, "Decorations and Citations," ]
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin
', August 1943, p. 57 He died in
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, on the Coastal California, Pacific coast south of El Segundo, California, El Segundo, west of Hawthorne, California, Hawthorne and Redondo Beach, and north ...
at the age of 68.
Selected filmography
*''
The Blue Eagle'' (1926) – Ship's Crewman (uncredited)
*''
What Price Glory?'' (1926) – Soldier (uncredited)
*''
The Broncho Twister'' (1927) – Jinx Johnson
*''
Paid to Love'' (1927) – Body Guard (uncredited)
* ''
The Lone Eagle'' (1927) – Sven Linder
*''
Four Sons'' (1928) – The Iceman
*''
Why Sailors Go Wrong'' (1928) – First Mate (uncredited)
*''
Hangman's House
''Hangman's House'' is a 1928 American romantic drama genre silent film set in County Wicklow, Ireland, directed by John Ford (uncredited) with inter-titles written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. It is based on a novel by Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne. ...
'' (1928) – Man Bringing Dermot to Hanging (uncredited)
*''
Plastered in Paris'' (1928) – Bud Swenson
*''
Strong Boy
''Strong Boy'' is a 1929 American Synchronized sound comedy film directed by John Ford. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-film Movietone process. The fi ...
'' (1929) – Baggage Man
*''
The Black Watch'' (1929) – 42nd Highlander (uncredited)
*''
Lucky Star'' (1929) – Army Driver (uncredited)
*''
Salute'' (1929) – Football Player (uncredited)
*''
The Virginian'' (1929) – Slim (uncredited)
*''
The Mighty
''The Mighty'' is a 1998 American coming of age buddy comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom and written by Charles Leavitt. Based on the book '' Freak the Mighty'' by Rodman Philbrick, it stars Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, Gillian ...
'' (1929) – Doughboy (uncredited)
*''
Navy Blues'' (1929) – Kansas – Sailor (uncredited)
*''His First Command'' (1929) – Rookie (uncredited)
*''
City Girl'' (1930) – Reaper (uncredited)
*''
Paramount on Parade'' (1930) – Marine (The Montmartre Girl) (uncredited)
*''
Born Reckless'' (1930) – Sergeant
*''
Way Out West'' (1930) – Pete
*''
Min and Bill'' (1930) – Merchant Seaman Checking in at Hotel (uncredited)
*''
Caught
Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground.
If the catch ...
'' (1931) – Cavalryman (uncredited)
*''
Hell Divers'' (1931) – Mechanic Socked by Windy for Smoking (uncredited)
*''
Possessed
Possessed may refer to:
Possession
* Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else
** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body
*** ...
'' (1931) – 'Parole for Convicts' Heckler (uncredited)
*''
Emma'' (1932) – Man at Railway Station Who Retrieves Emma's Corset (uncredited)
*''
The Beast of the City
''The Beast of the City'' is a 1932 American pre-Code gangster film featuring cops as vigilantes and known for its singularly vicious ending. Written by W.R. Burnett, Ben Hecht (uncredited), and John Lee Mahin, and directed by Charles Brabi ...
'' (1932) – Policeman #2 on Telephone (uncredited)
*''
Hell Fire Austin'' (1932) – Joe (uncredited)
*''
Sky Bride'' (1932) – Tom, Pilot (uncredited)
*''
Strangers of the Evening'' (1932) – Policeman (uncredited)
*''
The Phantom Express'' (1932) – Bubba, Henchman
*''
Heritage of the Desert'' (1932) – Fred (uncredited)
*''
Slightly Married'' (1932) – Sailor (uncredited)
*''
Air Mail
Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...
'' (1932) – Airport Postal Worker (uncredited)
*''
If I Had a Million
''If I Had a Million'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Paramount Studios anthology film starring Gary Cooper, George Raft, Charles Laughton, W. C. Fields, Jack Oakie, Frances Dee and Charlie Ruggles, among others. There were seven directors: ...
'' (1932) – Sailor with Violet (uncredited)
*''
Renegades of the West'' (1932) – Dave
*''
Wild Horse Mesa'' (1932) – Cowhand (uncredited)
*''
Sensation Hunters'' (1933) – Olaf Anderssen (uncredited)
*''
Hello, Everybody!'' (1933) – Joe, a Farmhand (uncredited)
*''
Mister Mugg'' (1933, Short)
*''
Strange People'' (1933) – The Plumber
*''
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
'' (1933) – A Minute for Each Cedar Soldier (uncredited)
*''
Tugboat Annie
''Tugboat Annie'' is a 1933 American pre-Code film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, written by Norman Reilly Raine and Zelda Sears, and starring Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery as a comically quarrelsome middle-aged couple who operate a tugboat. ...
'' (1933) – Pete
*''
Skyway
A skyway, skybridge, skywalk, or sky walkway is an elevated type of pedway connecting two or more buildings in an urban area, or connecting elevated points within mountainous recreational zones. Urban skyways very often take the form of Cover ...
'' (1933) – Spike
*''
I'm No Angel'' (1933) – Carny on spotlight (uncredited)
*''
Ace of Aces'' (1933) – Pilot (uncredited)
*''
The Prizefighter and the Lady'' (1933) – Bar Patron #6 (uncredited)
*''
Son of a Sailor'' (1933) – Sailor (uncredited)
*''
Jail Birds of Paradise'' (1934, Short) – Redface – Prisoner (uncredited)
*''
Come On Marines!'' (1934) – Cpl. Spike (uncredited)
*''
The World Moves On'' (1934) – French Orderly (uncredited)
*''
The Notorious Sophie Lang'' (1934) – Bystander (uncredited)
*''
Romance in Manhattan'' (1935) – Cab Driver on Strike (uncredited)
*''
West Point of the Air'' (1935) – Randolph Air Field Mechanic (uncredited)
*''
Goin' to Town'' (1935) – Cowboy (uncredited)
*''
Public Hero No. 1'' (1935) – Bus Driver (uncredited)
*''
Don't Bet on Blondes'' (1935) – Gangster #1 (uncredited)
*''
The Farmer Takes a Wife'' (1935) – Man Waiting in Freight Office (uncredited)
*''
Steamboat Round the Bend'' (1935) – River Man with Pappy (uncredited)
*''
Navy Wife'' (1935) – Sailor (uncredited)
*''
Cappy Ricks Returns'' (1935) – Sailor (uncredited)
*''
Waterfront Lady'' (1935) – Ship Gambler (uncredited)
*''
Barbary Coast
The Barbary Coast (also Barbary, Berbery, or Berber Coast) were the coastal regions of central and western North Africa, more specifically, the Maghreb and the Ottoman borderlands consisting of the regencies in Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, a ...
'' (1935) – Miner Chasing Chinese Man (uncredited)
*''
Hitch Hike Lady'' (1935) – Mug (uncredited)
*''
Rose Marie'' (1936) – Brawler (uncredited)
*''
The Prisoner of Shark Island'' (1936) – Corporal (uncredited)
*''
Drift Fence'' (1936) – Weary (uncredited)
*''
The Music Goes 'Round'' (1936) – Aspiring Actor (uncredited)
*''
Under Two Flags'' (1936) – Cpl. Vaux (uncredited)
*''
The Road to Glory
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' (1936) – Soldier (uncredited)
*''
Private Number'' (1936) – Gus Rilovitch
*''
Come and Get It'' (1936) – Foreman (uncredited)
*''
Banjo on My Knee'' (1936) – Skipper of Small Launch (uncredited)
*''
The Plough and the Stars'' (1936) – (uncredited)
*''
Great Guy
''Great Guy'' is a 1936 American crime film noir directed by John G. Blystone and starring James Cagney. In the film, an honest inspector for the New York Department of Weights and Measures takes on corrupt merchants and politicians.
Plot
After ...
'' (1936) – Truck Driver (uncredited)
*''
Devil's Playground'' (1937) – Gob (uncredited)
*''
23 1/2 Hours' Leave'' (1937) – Sgt. Johnson (uncredited)
*''
Wee Willie Winkie'' (1937) – Soldier (uncredited)
*''
Double or Nothing'' (1937) – Taxi Driver (uncredited)
*''
Big City'' (1937) – Ugly Comet Cab Driver (uncredited)
*''
Live, Love and Learn'' (1937) – Jonesie – Marine (uncredited)
*''
The Last Gangster'' (1937) – Convict in Mess Hall Riot (uncredited)
*''
Navy Blue and Gold'' (1937) – Ship's Fireman (uncredited)
*''
The Buccaneer'' (1938) – Bucktoothed Private (uncredited)
*''
King of the Newsboys
''King of the Newsboys'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Bernard Vorhaus.
Plot
Jerry Flynn's girlfriend leaves him for a gangster with power and money, in order to show her that she made a mistake, Jerry starts his newspaper distrib ...
'' (1938) – Lefty
*''
Tip-Off Girls'' (1938) – Truck Driver (uncredited)
*''
Battle of Broadway'' (1938) – Slim (uncredited)
*''
Yellow Jack
The yellow jack (''Carangoides bartholomaei''), also known as coolihoo, is a species of marine (ocean), marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. It is one of only two representatives of its genus present in the Atlantic Ocean, inhabiting wate ...
'' (1938) – Soldier Who Once Had Yellow Jack (uncredited)
*''
Cocoanut Grove'' (1938) – Bus Driver (uncredited)
*''
Alexander's Ragtime Band
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a Tin Pan Alley song by American composer Irving Berlin released in 1911; it is often inaccurately cited as his first global hit. Despite its title, the song is a march as opposed to a rag and contains little sync ...
'' (1938) – Drill Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
You and Me'' (1938) – Gangster
*''
Squadron of Honor'' (1938) – Elmer (uncredited)
*''
Submarine Patrol
''Submarine Patrol'' is a 1938 film directed by John Ford. The screenplay was by Rian James, Darrell Ware, and Jack Yellen. The film starred Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly and Preston Foster. The supporting cast features George Bancroft, Eli ...
'' (1938) – Bos'un 'Guns' McPeek
*''
Thanks for Everything'' (1938) – Medical Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
Stagecoach
A stagecoach (also: stage coach, stage, road coach, ) is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by ...
'' (1939) – Bartender in Tonto (uncredited)
*''
Tail Spin
''Tail Spin'' (also known as ''Tailspin'') is a 1939 aviation film. The screenplay was written by Frank Wead and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It was based on the book, ''Women with Wings: A novel of the modern day aviatrix'' (Ganesha Publishing, ...
'' (1939) – Mechanic (uncredited)
*''
Sergeant Madden'' (1939) – Prisoner (uncredited)
*''
Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
'' (1939) – Harmonicist (uncredited)
*''
Young Mr. Lincoln'' (1939) – Big Buck Troop (uncredited)
*''
Mountain Rhythm'' (1939) – Rocky
*''
The Star Maker'' (1939) – Prizefighter
*''
Drums Along the Mohawk
''Drums Along the Mohawk'' is a 1939 American historical drama film based upon a 1936 novel of the same name by American author Walter D. Edmonds. The film stars Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, and direct ...
'' (1939) – Amos Hartman
*''
The Grapes of Wrath
''The Grapes of Wrath'' is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The book won the National Book Award
and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize ...
'' (1940) – Camp Helper (uncredited)
*''
The Westerner'' (1940) – Henry Willims (uncredited)
*''
The Long Voyage Home
''The Long Voyage Home'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell and Ian Hunter. It features Barry Fitzgerald, Wilfrid Lawson, John Qualen, Mildred Natwick, and Ward Bond, among others.
The ...
'' (1940) – Johnny
*''
North West Mounted Police'' (1940) – Sergeant Field
*''
Charter Pilot'' (1940) – Workman (uncredited)
*''
Tobacco Road'' (1941) – Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
*''
Men of Boys Town
''Men of Boys Town'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Norman Taurog and written by James Kevin McGuinness. It is a sequel to the 1938 film ''Boys Town (film), Boys Town''. The film stars Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson, Larry Nu ...
'' (1941) – Reform School Guard (uncredited)
*''
Lady from Louisiana'' (1941) – Cuffy Brown
*''
Sergeant York
Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known by his rank as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor fo ...
'' (1941) – Corporal Cutting (uncredited)
*''
Wild Geese Calling'' (1941) – Mug (uncredited)
*''
How Green Was My Valley'' (1941) – Superintendent (uncredited)
*''
They Were Expendable
''They Were Expendable'' is a 1945 American war film directed by John Ford, starring Robert Montgomery and John Wayne, and featuring Donna Reed. The film is based on the 1942 novel of the same name by William Lindsay White, relating the stor ...
'' (1945) – "Doc"
*''
My Darling Clementine'' (1946) – Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)
*''
Unconquered'' (1947) – Joe Lovat (uncredited)
*''
The Fugitive'' (1947) – Man (uncredited)
*''
Fort Apache'' (1948) – Sgt. Daniel Schattuck
*''
3 Godfathers'' (1948) – Luke
*''
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'' (1949) – Sergeant Major (uncredited)
*''
Mighty Joe Young'' (1949) – Sam, Truck Driver
*''
The Fighting Kentuckian'' (1949) – Captain Dan Carol
*''
When Willie Comes Marching Home'' (1950) – Sgt. Briggs – Instructor (uncredited)
*''
Rock Island Trail'' (1950) – Army Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
'' (1950) – Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
Tripoli'' (1950) – Busch
*''
Operation Pacific'' (1951) – Chief
*''
Fighting Coast Guard'' (1951) – Coast Guardsman
*''
The Sea Hornet'' (1951) – Salty
*''
What Price Glory What Price Glory? may refer to:
* ''What Price Glory?'' (1926 film), directed by Raoul Walsh
* ''What Price Glory'' (1952 film), directed by John Ford
* ''What Price Glory?'' (play), a 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings; basis for ...
'' (1952) – Ferguson (uncredited)
*''
Stars and Stripes Forever'' (1952) – Right Guard in Opening Scene (uncredited)
*''
The Sun Shines Bright'' (1953) – Beaker (uncredited)
*''
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
''The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms'' is a 1953 American independent monster film directed by Eugène Lourié, with stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. It is partly based on Ray Bradbury's 1951 short story of the same name, which was later ...
'' (1953) – Jacob Bowman
*''
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas'' () is a science fiction adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne. It is considered a classic within its genres and world literature. It was originally serialised from March 1869 to June 1870 i ...
'' (1954) – Cannon Mate Carson (uncredited)
*''
The Long Gray Line'' (1955) – Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
Mister Roberts'' (1955) – Marine Sergeant
*''
The Last Frontier'' (1955) – Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
The Searchers
''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas–Indian wars, and stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War v ...
'' (1956) – Sergeant at Fort
*''
The Wings of Eagles'' (1957) – Joe McGuffin (uncredited)
*''
The Last Hurrah'' (1958) – Police Sgt. Rafferty (uncredited)
*''
The Buccaneer'' (1958) – Yank Pirate
*''
The Horse Soldiers'' (1959) – Sgt. Major "Mitch" Mitchell (uncredited)
*''
Sergeant Rutledge'' (1960) – Courtroom Sgt. (uncredited)
*''
The Alamo'' (1960) – Sgt. Lightfoot (uncredited)
*''
Two Rode Together'' (1961) – Sergeant (uncredited)
*''
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' (1962) – Jack-Bartender (uncredited)
*''
How The West Was Won'' (1962) – Captain Dan Carrol (uncredited)
Television
*''
Wagon Train
''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...
'' – episode – The Colter Craven Story – Drill Sgt. Tim Molley (uncredited) (1960)
*''
Gunslinger
Gunfighters, also called gunslingers () or in the late 19th and early 20th century gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in shootouts. Today, the term "gunslin ...
'' – episodes – The Buried People, Appointment in Cascabel, The Zone, and The Diehards – Sgt. Duffy (1961)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennick, Jack
1895 births
1964 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
Male actors from Portland, Oregon
Military personnel from Oregon
Military personnel from Portland, Oregon
People of the Office of Strategic Services
Recipients of the Silver Star
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I
United States Navy officers
United States Navy personnel of World War II